Jim Clendenen, the man and mind behind Au Bon Climat, was all set for a career in law when a trip to Burgundy inspired him to change his plans forever. In 1982 he set up the winery Au Bon Climat (now referred to by many as simply'ABC'), which is today one of California's most celebrated wineries. Sadly, Jim Clendenen died at the age of 68 on 16 May 2021. As Jancis Robinson MW - who coined his'wild boy'nickname - put it:"The wine world really is much the poorer without this brave pioneer."Clendenen was a winemaker that was Burgundian in his sensibility (if the grapes aren't grown in Burgundy then they don't get into an ABC wine) yet resolutely Californian in style. Although we're sure his vision and spirit will live on, his final vintages are bottles of fine wine history. The fruit for the 2019 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is sourced from four great vineyards: Bien Nacido, Sierra Madre, Los Alamos and Rancho Viñedo. It's then barrel fermented and aged for 12 months in French oak before bottling. Expect intense lemon meringue pie and apple crumble notes, combined with creamy macadamia nuts, blossom and beach pebbles. Consider pairing it with roast chicken, creamy truffle pasta, wild mushrooms or maybe the Christmas roast.£4.27 per 100.00ml